Portable line leveling device



' March 7, 1939.

H. L( PROUT PORTABLE LINE LEVELING DEVICE Filed Oct. 1937 INVENTOR. HERBERT L. PROUT Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE Application October 1, 1937, Serial 1 Claim.

way places, such as at the bottom of excavations, trenches, etc., where a tripod level would be very inconvenient. i

A further object of theinvention is to provide a leveling instrument for use by builders, masons, plumbers, etc., also to improve line leveling devices in other respects hereinafter specified and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part oi' this specification, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation 01' the improved leveling instrument in use,

Fig. 2 is an elevation of, the device at right angles to the View shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View of the device; taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, a, main preferably of Wood, and a center section of two spaced parallel metal bars ll, bolted to, and joining the top and bottom sections Io and I 2 by means of bolts I3. The staff is to be of conthrough bars This pivot twenty-four nches (or some other definite even I2. The bars Il are or such length as to permit the level to be folded securely between them as shown by dotted lines I'I, for convenience in carrying. A suitable lock or rubber band may be provided for holding the rame |5 in folded position.

One end of the level frame I 5 carries an ex 5 tension or arm !8 of suitable length, and carrying at its outer end a hook |9 for attaching a cord or line 20. The other end of the level frame !5 may be provided with a counterweight 2| such as a lead slug; and the pivot pin !5 is arranged to 10 pass exactly through the center of gravity of the whole level members so that it will exactly balance about said pivot pin.

To use this leveling device the operator places the staf firmly on the ground or some point of 15 tical position. His assistant stretches the line 20 toward the spot to be leveled and holds a rule or measuring rod upright on said spot. He then raises or lowers his end of the line, as di 20 rected by the operator, until the level position of the cord is attained. He then observes the reading on the upright rule where crossed by the stretched line. If exactly 24 inches, the two points are level. If more or less than 24 inches, 25 the two points are out of level by a corresponding amount.

A special rod 22 may be used instead of the rule, wth the zero mark exactly 24 inches from festly the same may be consderably varied with- 40 out departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: In a leveling device, a pair of elongated stafi members in spaced substantally parallel relation, a lever pivotally mounted between said HERBERT L. PROUT. 55 

